A LifeFlight helicopter waits to bring a Massachusetts woman to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston after an accident on Route 27 in Edgecomb the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 17. (Abigail Adams photo)
A Massachusetts woman sustained “serious head and chest injuries” and her two passengers were also hurt when she pulled out in front of a commercial truck on Route 27 in Edgecomb the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 17.
Robert Latter, 46, of Boothbay Harbor, was driving a 2012 Kenworth truck from the Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District south on Route 27 near the intersection of Routes 1 and 27 at the time of the crash, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
Aimee Dempsey, 81, of Plymouth, Mass., was driving a 2014 Honda Accord with two passengers: Robert Dempsey Jr., 82, also of Plymouth, Mass., and Suzanne Dempsey, 77, of Williamsburg, Va.
As Latter was rounding a corner, Dempsey pulled out of a driveway and into the path of the truck. Latter braked, but could not stop in time, and the vehicles collided. The truck pushed the car forward until both vehicles came to a rest. The Lincoln County Communications Center received a report of the crash at 3:38 p.m.
Rescue personnel extricated the Dempseys from the Honda. Latter had to back up for rescue workers to gain access to the car. A LifeFlight helicopter landed on the lawn of the Cod Cove Inn and flew Aimee Dempsey to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston with serious head and chest injuries. She was in fair condition Monday, Aug. 22, a hospital spokesperson said.
Robert Dempsey Jr. and Suzanne Dempsey were transported by ambulance to the Maine Medical Center in Portland with chest injuries and broken bones. Both were in fair condition Monday, a Maine Medical Center spokesperson said.
Latter complained of minor knee pain, but did not seek treatment.
LifeFlight arrives at the scene of a trailer versus car accident on Route 27 in Edgecomb that seriously injured a Massachusetts woman the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 17. (Abigail Adams photo)
All four were wearing seat belts. The side curtain airbags deployed in the Honda.
The Central Lincoln County Ambulance Service, LifeFlight, the Wiscasset Ambulance Service, the Edgecomb Fire Department, the Wiscasset Fire Department, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and Maine State Police responded.
Route 27 traffic was detoured at Cross Street until the scene was cleared at 6:11 p.m.
The primary investigating officer is Sgt. Jason Nein, who is conducting a reconstruction of the crash. Nein was assisted at the scene by LCSO Detective Jared Mitkus, Sgt. Brendan Kane, and Deputies Ryan Chubbuck and Chad Gilbert.
Maine State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Mills and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Trooper Bernard Campbell inspected the commercial vehicle.
Neither speed nor alcohol appear to have been factors in this crash. Nein said the drivers would be given blood tests, which is standard procedure. The crash remains under investigation and the results of the investigation will be reviewed by the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation is standard for commercial vehicles in accidents with serious injury, according to Nein.
“We really want to remind motorists to be hyper-vigilant … especially with the traffic increases, which are the worst in August,” Nein said. “Slow down, be patient, wear seat belts. It will reduce the frequency of these incidents.”
